How to run a PowerShell script

Prerequisites:

• You need to be able to run PowerShell as an administrator
• You need to set your PowerShell execution policy to a permissive value or be able to bypass it

Steps:

1. Launch Windows PowerShell as an Administrator, and wait for the PS> prompt to appear

2. Navigate within PowerShell to the directory where the script lives:

   PS> cd C:\my_path\yada_yada\ (enter)
   

3. Execute the script:

   PS> .\run_import_script.ps1 (enter)
   

Or: you can run the PowerShell script from the Command Prompt (cmd.exe) like this:

powershell -noexit "& ""C:\my_path\yada_yada\run_import_script.ps1""" (enter)

according to Invoking a PowerShell script from cmd.exe (or Start | Run) by Kirk Munro.

Or you could even run your PowerShell script asynchronously from your C# application.

If you are on PowerShell 2.0, use PowerShell.exe's -File parameter to invoke a script from another environment, like cmd.exe. For example:

Powershell.exe -File C:\my_path\yada_yada\run_import_script.ps1

If you want to run a script without modifying the default script execution policy, you can use the bypass switch when launching Windows PowerShell.

powershell [-noexit] -executionpolicy bypass -File <Filename>

I've had the same problem, and I tried and tried... Finally I used:

powershell.exe -noexit "& 'c:\Data\ScheduledScripts\ShutdownVM.ps1'"

And put this line in a batch-file, and this works.

In case you want to run a PowerShell script with Windows Task Scheduler, please follow the steps below:

1. Create a task

2. Set Program/Script to Powershell.exe

3. Set Arguments to -File "C:\xxx.ps1"

It's from another answer, How do I execute a PowerShell script automatically using Windows task scheduler?.

1. Open PowerShell in administrator mode
2. Run: set-executionpolicy unrestricted
3. Open a regular PowerShell window and run your script.

I found this solution following the link that was given as part of the error message: About Execution Policies

Make sure to run set-ExecutionPolicy default once you're done, or you will be exposed to security risks.

You can run from cmd like this:

type "script_path" | powershell.exe -c -

Use the -File parameter in front of the filename. The quotes make PowerShell think it is a string of commands.

With the appropriate execution policy, you should just be able to call the file directly and Windows will associate it with PowerShell

C:\my_path\yada_yada\run_import_script.ps1

That does not do so well with arguments. The real answer to your question is that you are missing the & to say "execute this"

powershell.exe '& C:\my_path\yada_yada\run_import_script.ps1'

I've just found the method what Microsoft do when we right click on a ps1 script and click on "Run with PowerShell" :

"C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe" "-Command" "if((Get-ExecutionPolicy ) -ne 'AllSigned') { Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Process Bypass }; & 'C:\Users\USERNAME\Desktop\MYSCRIPT.ps1'"

1. Open Power-shell
2. Move the folder where the .ps1 file available ex. cd c:\users<yourusername>\
3. Now type your powershell file name ex.testfile.ps1
4. Press Enter

This should execute your simple powershell script.